White-throated Kingfisher ( Kerala , India )

                                                                   Location: Valillapuzha , Areekode , Malappuram , Kerala

The White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) also known as the White-breasted Kingfisher or Smyrna Kingfisher, is a tree kingfisher. This is a large kingfisher, 28 cm in length. The adult has a bright blue back, wings and tail. Its head, shoulders, flanks and lower belly are chestnut, and the throat and breast are white. The large bill and legs are bright red. The flight of the White-throated Kingfisher is rapid and direct, the short rounded wings whirring. This species mainly hunts large crustaceans, insects, earthworms, rodents, snakes, fish and frogs. The White-throated Kingfisher begins breeding at the onset of the Monsoons. 

Wild Flower - Kerala

A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted.The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more expensively than when labeled with only its name and/or origin.

Kerala's climate is very suitable for growing flowering plant. There are many type of flowers found in Kerala. Some flowers grown in home gardens and some are grown only on forest areas.

many flowers are common and some are very rare. Almost all type of flowers in south India are found in Kerala. 

Moon As Seen Through Coconut Leaves - Kerala

EXIF DATA

Camera Model: NIKON D3100

Exposure Time: 1/200 sec.

ISO Speed Rating: 1600

Metering Mode: Pattern

Exposure Program: Manual

Focal Length: 90.0 mm

Kerala is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956.The state has an area of 38,863 km² (15,005 sq mi) and is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the south and southeast, and the Arabian Sea on the west. The city of Thiruvananthapuram is the state capital. The city of Kochi and Kozhikode are other major cities.

Kerala (Keralam) the land of kera (coconut) is also known as God's own country. Beautiful beaches, kettuvallams over enchanting backwaters… monsoon showers, misty mountains of the Western Ghats, fairs and festivals.....

Kerala lies along the coastline, to the extreme south west of the Indian peninsula, flanked by the Arabian Sea on the west and the mountains of the Western Ghats on the east. The Western Ghats, bordering the eastern boundary of the State, form an almost continuous mountain wall, except near Palakkad where there is a natural mountain pass known as the Palakkad Gap.

There are 44 rivers in the state, of which 41 originate from the Western Ghats and flow towards west into the Arabian sea. Only three tributaries of the river Cauvery ( Kabani, Bhavani, Paampar ) originate in Kerala and flow east into the neighbouring States.

In the Midland Plains of central region, the hills are not very steep and the valleys are wide. The valleys have been developed as paddy fields and the elevated lands are converted into estates of rubber, fruit trees and other cash crops . Tea and coffee estates have cropped up in the high ranges.

The Coastal Belt strip is comparatively plain. Extensive paddy fields, thick groves of coconut trees and beautiful backwaters, interconnected with canals and rivers. Alappuzha an old sea port town of this region is known as the 'Venice of the East'. 

Mysore- Coorg road (Karnataka)

Kodagu:  Kodagu ( Kudak ) also known as Coorg, is an administrative district in Karnataka, India.  It occupies  in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka.Madikeri (English: Mercara) is theheadquarters of the Kodagu. The district is bordered by Dakshina Kannada district to the northwest, Hassan district to the north, Mysore district to the east, Kannur district of Kerala to the southwest, and the Wayanad district of Kerala to the south. Coorg is famous for its enchanting landscape and its natural bounty. Madikeri is known as the Scotland of India. It is located 260 km from Bangalore , 120 km from Mysore , 110 km from Kannur , 108 km from Thalasseri , 180 km from Kozhikode and 100 km from Wayanadu.

Places to see in Coorg ( Kudak ) and around

Raja Seat: Raja Seat Located at Madeikeri. This spot was a favourite place of recreation for the Rajas and hence was permanently associated with them. the Kodagu Kings spent their evenings in this place. It is built on a high level ground with a commanding view of the cliffs and valleys to the west.

Dubare: Dubare is located near Madikeri in the Kodagu District of Karnataka , India. The rafting in river Kaveri is  major attraction in Dubare.  Dubare is known for its elephant camp, and is a forest camp on the banks of the river Kaveri in the district of Kodagu, Karnataka. . There are opportunities for trekking, elephant rides,and fishing. these activities are hosted by Jungle Lodges and resorts. The Forest Department also conducts some treks along well-defined routes.

Madikeri Fort: This fort was first built by Mudduraja in the last quarter of the 17th century. He also built a palace inside the fort. In the north-east corner at the entrance are two life size masonry elephants and a church is present in the south-east corner. There is a famous Lord Ganesha temple  just at the main entrance of the fort.

Omkareshwara Temple: Located at Madeikeri .Omkareshwara temple was built by king Lingarajendra in 1820. The temple has both Islamic and Gothic styles of architecture, built around a central pool.

Nagarahole National Park : Nagarhole National Park also known as "Rajiv Gandhi National Park", is located 94 kilometers (58 mi) from Mysore in Karnataka . It is spread between Kodagu district and Mysore district. Located to the north-west of Bandipur National Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. The park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Iruppu Falls : The Irupu Falls ( Iruppu Falls) are located in the Kodagu district of Karnataka, bordering the Wayanad district of Kerala. It is a fresh water cascade and is situated at a distance of 48 km from Virajpet on the highway to Nagarhole. The Falls are also known as the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls, derived from the name of the tributary of Cauvery which starts from these falls.

Abbey Falls: Abbey Falls is in Kodagu, in the Western Ghats in Karnataka. It is located 8 km from Madikeri. During the monsoon season the water flow is very high. During the dry seasons the flow is considerably diminished.

Talacauvery ( Thalakaveri ) : Talacauvery is the birthplace of the river Cauvery and is located at a distance of 44 km from Madikeri.  It is located in the Brahmagiri hill  near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka.

Bhagamandala:  Bhagamandala is a pilgrimage place in Kodagu, Karnataka, in India. It is situated on the river Kaveri in its upstream stretches.The temples in this area are built in Kerala style which is also similar to the temples in Nepal. Bhagamandala is located about 33 km from the district headquarters Madikeri and is connected by paved roads from Madikeri, Virajpet and nearby places in Kerala. Government and private buses are available on all of these routes.

Tibetan Monastery : Tibetan Monastery in Bylakuppe is the Tibetitan Refugee resettlement, location of "Lugsum Samdupling" (established in 1961) and "Dickyi Larsoe" (established in 1969), in the west of Mysore district. The nearest town is Kushalnagar in Kodagu in the State of Karnataka.  This Tibetan settlement at Bailkoppa or Baylkuppe is the the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet. There are over 10,000 monks and students at the Tibetan monastery. Golden Temple is the main tourist attraction in Bylakuppe. Stepping inside the temple feels like walking into another world. Three beautiful golden Buddha statues each of 40 Feet namely Padmasambhava, Buddha and Amitayus look down at visitors above the altar. The gold-coated Buddhist statues in the monastery are imposing and unique, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Tibetans.

Nisargadhama: Kaveri Nisargadhama is an island formed by river Kaveri and is used as a picnic spot near Kushalnagar in the district of Kodagu in Karnataka. It is approximately 3 km  from Kushalanagara, off the State Highway and 30 km from Madikeri and 95 km from Mysore. The island is accessible through a hanging rope bridge.

Chiklihole dam: Chiklihole reservoir in Coorg is located in between Madikeri and Kushalnagar and is around 15 kms from Kushalnagar.

Harangi Dam: Harangi Reservoir is located near Hudgur village, in Kodagu district  of Karnataka.The reservoir is formed by a masonry dam built across Harangi River, a tributary of Kaveri River. The dam is located about 9 km away from Kushalnagar town. 

Dragonfly - Kerala

                                               Odonata Picture - Kerala  ( Location: Vaalillapuzha , Areekode , Kerala , India )

Fauna in Kerala

 India has some of the world's most biodiverse regions. The political boundaries of India encompass a wide range of ecozones—desert, high mountains, highlands, tropical and temperate forests, swamplands, plains, grasslands, areas surrounding rivers, as well as island archipelago. It hosts three biodiversity hotspots: the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas, and the hilly ranges that straddle the India-Myanmar border. These hotspots have numerous endemic species.

Kerala consists of wet evergreen rainforests at lower elevations and highland deciduous and semi-evergreen forests in the east, is subject to a humid tropical climate. however, significant variations in terrain and elevation have resulted in a land whose biodiversity registers as among the world’s most significant. Most of Kerala's significantly biodiverse tracts of wilderness lie in the evergreen forests of its easternmost districts. Kerala contains 9,400 km² of natural forests. Out of the approximately 7,500 km² of non-plantation forest cover, there are wild regions of tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests , tropical moist and dry deciduous forests ,  and montane subtropical and temperate (shola) forests . Such forests together cover 24% of Kerala's landmass. 

Raja Seat , Madeikeri- Coorg ( Karnataka )

Raja Seat: Raja Seat Located at Madeikeri. This spot was a favourite place of recreation for the Rajas and hence was permanently associated with them. the Kodagu Kings spent their evenings in this place. It is built on a high level ground with a commanding view of the cliffs and valleys to the west.

Kodagu:  Kodagu ( Kudak ) also known as Coorg, is an administrative district in Karnataka, India.  It occupies  in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka.Madikeri (English: Mercara) is theheadquarters of the Kodagu. The district is bordered by Dakshina Kannada district to the northwest, Hassan district to the north, Mysore district to the east, Kannur district of Kerala to the southwest, and the Wayanad district of Kerala to the south. Coorg is famous for its enchanting landscape and its natural bounty. Madikeri is known as the Scotland of India. It is located 260 km from Bangalore , 120 km from Mysore , 110 km from Kannur , 108 km from Thalasseri , 180 km from Kozhikode and 100 km from Wayanadu.


Places to see in Coorg ( Kudak ) and around


Dubare: Dubare is located near Madikeri in the Kodagu District of Karnataka , India. The rafting in river Kaveri is  major attraction in Dubare.  Dubare is known for its elephant camp, and is a forest camp on the banks of the river Kaveri in the district of Kodagu, Karnataka. . There are opportunities for trekking, elephant rides,and fishing. these activities are hosted by Jungle Lodges and resorts. The Forest Department also conducts some treks along well-defined routes.

Madikeri Fort: This fort was first built by Mudduraja in the last quarter of the 17th century. He also built a palace inside the fort. In the north-east corner at the entrance are two life size masonry elephants and a church is present in the south-east corner. There is a famous Lord Ganesha temple  just at the main entrance of the fort.

Omkareshwara Temple: Located at Madeikeri .Omkareshwara temple was built by king Lingarajendra in 1820. The temple has both Islamic and Gothic styles of architecture, built around a central pool.

Nagarahole National Park : Nagarhole National Park also known as "Rajiv Gandhi National Park", is located 94 kilometers (58 mi) from Mysore in Karnataka . It is spread between Kodagu district and Mysore district. Located to the north-west of Bandipur National Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. The park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Iruppu Falls : The Irupu Falls ( Iruppu Falls) are located in the Kodagu district of Karnataka, bordering the Wayanad district of Kerala. It is a fresh water cascade and is situated at a distance of 48 km from Virajpet on the highway to Nagarhole. The Falls are also known as the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls, derived from the name of the tributary of Cauvery which starts from these falls.

Abbey Falls: Abbey Falls is in Kodagu, in the Western Ghats in Karnataka. It is located 8 km from Madikeri. During the monsoon season the water flow is very high. During the dry seasons the flow is considerably diminished.

Talacauvery ( Thalakaveri ) : Talacauvery is the birthplace of the river Cauvery and is located at a distance of 44 km from Madikeri.  It is located in the Brahmagiri hill  near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka.

Bhagamandala:  Bhagamandala is a pilgrimage place in Kodagu, Karnataka, in India. It is situated on the river Kaveri in its upstream stretches.The temples in this area are built in Kerala style which is also similar to the temples in Nepal. Bhagamandala is located about 33 km from the district headquarters Madikeri and is connected by paved roads from Madikeri, Virajpet and nearby places in Kerala. Government and private buses are available on all of these routes.

Tibetan Monastery : Tibetan Monastery in Bylakuppe is the Tibetitan Refugee resettlement, location of "Lugsum Samdupling" (established in 1961) and "Dickyi Larsoe" (established in 1969), in the west of Mysore district. The nearest town is Kushalnagar in Kodagu in the State of Karnataka.  This Tibetan settlement at Bailkoppa or Baylkuppe is the the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet. There are over 10,000 monks and students at the Tibetan monastery. Golden Temple is the main tourist attraction in Bylakuppe. Stepping inside the temple feels like walking into another world. Three beautiful golden Buddha statues each of 40 Feet namely Padmasambhava, Buddha and Amitayus look down at visitors above the altar. The gold-coated Buddhist statues in the monastery are imposing and unique, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Tibetans.

Nisargadhama: Kaveri Nisargadhama is an island formed by river Kaveri and is used as a picnic spot near Kushalnagar in the district of Kodagu in Karnataka. It is approximately 3 km  from Kushalanagara, off the State Highway and 30 km from Madikeri and 95 km from Mysore. The island is accessible through a hanging rope bridge.

Chiklihole dam: Chiklihole reservoir in Coorg is located in between Madikeri and Kushalnagar and is around 15 kms from Kushalnagar.

Harangi Dam: Harangi Reservoir is located near Hudgur village, in Kodagu district  of Karnataka.The reservoir is formed by a masonry dam built across Harangi River, a tributary of Kaveri River. The dam is located about 9 km away from Kushalnagar town.